Advanced hybrid tank, Advanced PV cooling panel, Advanced thermal focusing panel

ABSTRACT

The advanced hybrid tank is a multifunctional tank with a shape that makes for easy construction and assembly while maximizing the ability of thermal syphoning. This invention can store an inlet liquid and thermal energy from a thermal collector, for outlet usage in multiple applications. The tank typically has a coupling side and a thermal syphoning side which together allows for coupling with an advanced PV cooling panel, an advanced thermal focusing panel, or a roof structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Ser. No. 15/426,010 with a filing date of Feb. 6, 2017.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR EMPLOYMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPCT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to solar energy panels and tanks for thermaltransfer. The invention is shaped to allow coupling with an uppercovering and to maximize thermal syphoning of a heat collector element,while containing a liquid to perform thermal transfer.

A thermal syphoning tank is placed at a higher elevation than a heatcollector element to generate the effect of thermal syphoning. Astandard thermal syphoning tank is typically placed on top of a roof tocollect solar radiation. This type of tank is typically cylindrical andplaced exterior of the roof's upper covering, which can add stress to anexisting roof and may not be esthetically pleasing.

A heat collector element is typically tilted toward the equator tocollect solar heat using a liquid to transfer heat to a tank. Thisstored heat is typically utilized by passing water through a coiled pipein the tank, as a closed system, to allow water in the coiled pipe toabsorb heat from the heated liquid in the tank, and provide heated waterto showers or sinks. This type of system only heats a volume of waterthat passes through the coil and therefore requires a secondary tank toheat and store a larger volume or quantity. Additionally, heat can belost during transfer to a second tank.

A photovoltaic panel, or PV panel, utilizes photovoltaic cells toproduce electricity from received light. This type of panel is mountedto receive solar energy and will receive solar thermal energy as well.This thermal energy decreases the PV panel's energy production,therefore, the hotter the panel, the less energy efficient it becomes.The PV panel could produce more energy by being cooled.

BREIF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention can be integrated into a roof of a building or vehicle tocollect and store thermal energy. This invention improves how a thermalsyphon tank is attached and integrated with a building, by having ashape to allow interior attachment and coupling with a roof having apitch.

Coupling any of the invention's panels with the roof's upper coveringwill produce a sleek heat collector element and a roof heat extractor.Lenses applied to a heat collector element can focus energy on pipes toimprove thermal extraction. Additionally, the invention extracts thermalenergy from photovoltaic cells to improve electrical productionefficiency.

A tank support structure is used as a method of installing the inventioninto an existing roof structure, while improving both the existingstructure's load-bearing capacity and it's resistance to earthquakes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MULTIPLE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the tank's general shape.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tank on a stand.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a method of integrating the tank and supportsinto a roof structure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the advanced PV cooling panel with embeddedpipes and embedded PV cells.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the advanced thermal focusing panel withembedded pipes and embedded lenses.

FIG. 6 is a side view of combining the advanced PV cooling panel and theadvanced thermal focusing panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the invention 1 with a base side 2 joining an adjacent sideto create an obtuse angled corner 3. The obtuse angled corner 3 isfollowed by a right angled corner 4. The side between the obtuse angledcorner 3 and the right angled corner 4 is shown to have an angledconnection 5 to maximize thermal syphoning.

An angled connection 5 can be used as a liquid inlet connection. Thebase side 2 is shown with a connection 6 for liquid outlet, yet couldinstead be placed on any side at any height from the base side to halfway up the tank. Additional inlet and outlet connections can bepositioned on any of the tank's sides.

FIG. 2 shows the invention 1 with a support structure having a firstplurality of support members 7 and a second plurality of support members8 being attached to opposing ends of the plurality of beam members 9.The first plurality of support members 7 are pitched similar to thetank's coupling side 10.

FIG. 3 shows a method of coupling the tank with roof structure members.The first and second plurality of support members 7 and 8, are shownattached and sistering the rafter members 11, beneath an upper covering21. The plurality of beam members 9 are shown to collar tie the raftermembers 11.

FIG. 4 shows the advanced PV cooling panel 12 having pipes 14 as thebottom ply of the panel and photovoltaic cells 15 as the upper ply ofthe panel. Panel pipe connections 16 allow liquid flow and thermalcommunication with a tank. Panel electrical connections 17 allowphotovoltaic electrical energy to be utilized in an electrical system.

FIG. 5 shows the advanced thermal focusing panel 13 having pipes 14 asthe bottom ply of the panel and lens rods 18 as the upper ply of thepanel. Panel pipe connections 16 allow liquid flow and thermalcommunication with a tank.

FIG. 6 shows a hybrid panel 20 with the advanced PV cooling panel andthe advanced thermal focusing panel fused together with a ply 19 thatcan be considered a joining ply when fusing atop of a photovoltaic ply.

1. I claim an advanced hybrid tank, an apparatus for containing a liquidand with the tank having a shape to both maximize thermal syphoning andallow coupling with a support structure and an upper covering,comprising; a tank shell to define a liquid type chamber; a base side; athermal syphon side; a coupling side; an inlet and outlet connection orplurality of connections; with the thermal syphon side having an inletconnection or plurality of inlet connections; with the coupling sidehaving a desired pitch between 10 degrees and 75 degree belowhorizontally level; with the thermal syphon side being approximatelyperpendicular to the coupling side; and consisting of glass, ceramic,plastic, metal, cast metal, a metal sheeting such as copper, or anycombination thereof.
 2. I claim an advanced PV cooling panel, anapparatus for thermal transfer with photovoltaic cells and coupling witha liquid tank, wherein the panel is assembled with a pipe or pluralityof pipes embedded, with photovoltaic cells embedded or applied, and amethod of making the advanced PV cooling panel, comprising; a panel; apipe or plurality of pipes; a photovoltaic cell or plurality ofphotovoltaic cells; with said panel consisting of metal, plastic, glass,or any combination thereof; with said pipe or plurality of pipes alignedlinearly and embedded with the panel; with said pipe or plurality ofpipes consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or any combination thereof;and the method of producing the panel with plumbing and photovoltaiccells embedded, comprising; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a panel ply orplurality of panel plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes beingfused to a ply or plurality of plies; with said pipe or plurality ofpipes having an inlet and outlet connection or plurality of connections;with photovoltaic cells as a ply or applied to the upper ply; and havingelectrical connections to said photovoltaic cells.
 3. I claim anadvanced thermal focusing panel, an apparatus for thermal transfer andcoupling with a liquid tank, wherein the panel is assembled with a pipeor plurality of pipes embedded, with lens rods being embedded orapplied, and a method of making said advanced thermal focusing panel,comprising; a panel; a pipe or plurality of pipes; a lens rod orplurality of lens rods; with said panel consisting of metal, plastic,glass, or any combination thereof; with said pipe or plurality of pipesaligned linearly and embedded with the panel; with said pipe orplurality of pipes consisting of metal, plastic, glass, or anycombination thereof; with the lens rod or plurality of lens rods havinga diameter to make a focal point on the upper surface of opaque typepipes; with the lens rod or plurality of lens rods having a diameter tomake a focal point at the core of clear type pipes; with the lens rod orplurality of lens rods positioned above said pipe or plurality of pipesand fused to the panel; and the method of producing the panel withplumbing and lens rods embedded, comprising; a pipe or plurality ofpipes; a lens rod or plurality of lens rods; a panel ply or plurality ofpanel plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes being fused to a plyor plurality of plies; with said pipe or plurality of pipes having aninlet and outlet connection or plurality of connections; and with lensrods fused to an upper panel ply.
 4. The advanced hybrid tank accordingto claim 1, wherein the tank is coupled with a support structure being astand structure, further comprising; a stand structure to suspend thetank, comprising; a first plurality of support members; a secondplurality of support members; a plurality of beam members; the firstplurality of support members being spaced and having a pitch between 10degrees below horizontally level and 75 degrees below horizontallylevel; the second plurality of support members being spaced and having apitch between 10 degrees below horizontally level and 90 degrees belowhorizontally level; with the first plurality of support members and thesecond plurality of support members connected at opposite ends of theplurality of beam members and extending downward to connect with a basevolume or built area; and a means of attachment for the tank being atthe plurality of beam members.
 5. The advanced hybrid tank according toclaim 4, wherein the support structure is improved by coupling the standstructure and the tank with a roof structure having an upper covering,wherein the tank coupling side and the stand structure have a similarpitch to said roof structure of a base volume or built area, furthercomprising; a roof structure; an upper covering; the first plurality ofsupport members being spaced and having a pitch similar to thecorresponding members of said roof structure; the second plurality ofsupport members being spaced and having a pitch similar to thecorresponding members of said roof structure; with the tank's couplingside having a desired pitch similar to the first plurality of supportmembers; and with the upper covering attached to the roof structure. 6.The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein said standstructure is improved as a collar-tie-beam system which reinforces saidroof structure, further comprising; the first and second plurality ofsupport members being attached and sistering the corresponding roofstructure's members; and with the plurality of beam members spacedparallel, spanning horizontally, and collar tying the upper ends of thefirst and second corresponding members of the roof structure.
 7. Theadvanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank inlet oroutlet connection or plurality of connections are improved, furthercomprising either; a switch connection; a sensor connection; a pressurerelief connection; a steam distribution connection; a steam turbineconnection; a pump connection; or a drain connection.
 8. The advancedhybrid tank according to claim 4, wherein the advanced hybrid tank iscoupled with an upper covering being the advanced PV cooling panel ofclaim 2, further comprising; an advanced PV cooling panel; with theadvanced PV cooling panel attached to the upper surface of the firstplurality of support members of said stand structure; and with the upperpanel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphoninlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connectedto any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluidcommunication.
 9. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 4, whereinthe advanced hybrid tank is coupled with an upper covering being theadvanced thermal focusing panel of claim 3, further comprising; anadvanced thermal focusing panel; with the advanced thermal focusingpanel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of supportmembers of said stand structure; and with the upper panel pipeconnections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inletconnections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to anyof the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication. 10.The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein the uppercovering of said roof structure is improved by coupling the advanced PVcooling panel of claim 2 with the advanced hybrid tank, furthercomprising; an advanced PV cooling panel; with the advanced PV coolingpanel attached to the upper surface of the first plurality of supportmembers of said stand structure; with the upper panel pipe connectionsbeing connected to the tank's thermal syphon inlet connections and thelower panel pipe connections being connected to any of the tank's outletconnections, as to be in fluid communication; and with the advanced PVcooling panel being integrated and coupled with said upper covering. 11.The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 5, wherein the uppercovering of said roof structure is improved by coupling the advancedthermal focusing panel of claim 3 with the advanced hybrid tank, furthercomprising; an advanced thermal focusing panel; with the advancedthermal focusing panel attached to the upper surface of the firstplurality of support members of said stand structure; with the upperpanel pipe connections being connected to the tank's thermal syphoninlet connections and the lower panel pipe connections being connectedto any of the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluidcommunication; and with the advanced thermal focusing panel beingintegrated and coupled with said upper covering.
 12. The advanced PVcooling panel according to claim 2, wherein the panel is improved bycoupling the advanced thermal focusing panel of claim 3 as an upper ply,as to increase thermal transfer while allowing light to reach saidphotovoltaic cells, further comprising; an advanced thermal focusingpanel; with the advanced thermal focusing panel being a ply; with theadvanced thermal focusing panel attached above the photovoltaic cell'sply of the advanced PV cooling panel; and with the upper panel pipeconnections being connected to the tank's thermal syphon inletconnections and the lower panel pipe connections being connected to anyof the tank's outlet connections, as to be in fluid communication. 13.The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank isconstructed within a size range, further comprising; a width dimension;and with the tank having a width less than 24 inches.
 14. The advancedhybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank is constructed withcopper sheeting and rivets, further comprising; a copper connection orplurality of copper connections; a plurality of copper type rivets; andmade to contain a liquid by soldering rivet seams.
 15. The advancedhybrid tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank is formed by weldingcopper sheeting.
 16. The advanced hybrid tank according to claim 2,wherein the panel is assembled with said ply of photovoltaic cells beingbeneath said ply of plurality of pipes.